A LITTLE NURSERY 63 



with downy feathers, those of the wings and tail being 

 fully developed and the white eyebrow completely 

 formed. 



I had to leave Coonoor on the eleventh day after the 

 young birds were hatched, so was unable to witness the 

 first lesson in flying, which was given when they were 

 fourteen days old. 



What human play or pageant is so entertaining as 

 the sight of young birds making their first attempts 

 at flight? The excited parents, while giving vent 

 to twitters of endearment and encouragement, make 

 little sallies into the air by way of example. They 

 are saying, in bird language, " Come, my dears, you are 

 quite old enough to fly. See how easy it is and how 

 delightful." But the young birds seem disinclined to 

 emulate their parents. They look fearfully around 

 them. 



Again and again, the old birds exhort them ; but the 

 young ones still hesitate. They are afraid to trust 

 themselves to their feeble little wings, just as a child, 

 who cannot swim, fears to plunge, head first, into the 

 still water of a swimming-bath. 



Eventually the bravest of the little creatures over- 

 comes its fears, and, amid the delighted cries of its 

 parents, essays a short flight. It flutters awkwardly, 

 but manages to reach a neighbouring branch, upon 

 which it alights, trembling with excitement and exulta- 

 tion. The battle is now half won. The other nestlings 

 follow the good example, and, one by one, they learn 

 how delicious is the sensation of sailing on outstretched 

 wings through the thin air. 



